Parks & Playgrounds Archives - Hunt Club Community Association

What do you love about living or doing business in the Hunt Club neighbourhood?

What would you change?

These two pressing questions (yes, really!) were the hottest topics during the Hunt Club Community Association (HCCA)’s September Zoom meetings, and the debate was certainly lively!

From the abundance of green space to its proximity to shops and services, the airport and downtown, to the incredible diversity of its neighbourhoods, new and seasoned residents alike agree that Hunt Club is a great place to live.

But we also agree it could be even better.

Imagine if we had a covered, year-round outdoor central meeting place that could host events like a farmer’s market, a winter holiday/Christmas market, outdoor yoga or even open-air concerts (when safe to do so)?
Given that many of us are spending more time at home, how about some independent coffee shops, bakeries, and a greater selection of bricks-and-mortar eateries and pop-up food vendors and food trucks?
A library branch that could do double-duty as a cultural venue within our Hunt Club-Riverside community centre?
At least one community garden per neighourhood – green thumbs not required!
More amenities for the fabulous parks in our area – including Uplands Park, Cahill Park and Owl Park
- – such as chess/checkers tables, performance spaces and gazebos to provide shelter from the sun/snow/rain…while savouring a gourmet ice cream or hot chocolate from a nearby vendor?
More things to do for the different age groups and resident profiles that make up our fantastic part of Ottawa!

As you can see, there are lots of opportunities – and spaces – for our neighbourhood to grow and expand, and there is no shortage of enthusiasm to help it along!

To borrow from the movie Field of Dreams, our unofficial motto is, “if you build it, they will come!” (If you haven’t seen it, check it out!) In fact, there’s another opportunity: community movie nights in the park…

The sky truly is the limit, but we need to hear from you, our Hunt Club residents and businesses, about what you want our community to be.

If you have ideas or resources and want to help our community grow and prosper, we’d love to hear from you!

If you want to meet us and see your HCCA in action, we’d love to have you attend our monthly meetings (held via Zoom) the first Monday of each month. Just send an email to outreach@hunt-club.ca and we’ll be in touch! Tip: no one has to know you’re logging in PJs!

Not ready to commit? No problem! Get to know us and what we are up to:

Pride in our community was on display with the dozen volunteers who came on Saturday, October 17 for the annual fall litter pick up at Paul Landry Park. Even our municipal councillor, Riley Brockington, joined in with rake in hand! It was a gorgeous day weather wise, and with so many helping hands we made quick work of the pick-up. The good news is that the quantity of litter continues to diminish over the years, with just a few ‘usual suspects’ seemingly unable to hold on to their cigarette wrappers, chip bags, candy bar wrappers, water, beer and juice bottles or cans, until they get home.

Unfortunately, last winter was rather dismal with our pristine snowy pathways continuously despoiled by dog poop droppings all along the way. This coming winter, we ask all dog owners to please ‘Stoop and Scoop’ (City by-law No. 2003-77 ‘Animal Care and Control’) and respect others who use the park. We thank the vast majority of dog owners who do pick up after their dogs, for the pride and respect that you are showing for our community.

Garbage pickups have now stopped in the park, until next spring. Please do not dump your litter or dog poop bags in the bin at the Uplands Drive end, as they will not be picked up. You need to dispose of your own waste. Thank you for remembering this.

Very happy to report that seven new trees were planted on November 20 at the Uplands Drive end of the park: two each of Sugar Maple, Prospector Elm, and Honey Locust and one Hackberry. These trees will eventually provide food and shelter to birds and small animals, as well as shade for all of us. We thank our City’s Forestry department for replacing those diseased trees that had to be cut down over a year ago because of the Emerald Ash Borer.

Next on our ‘ask list’, as shared by many neighbours, is to have a few more benches installed around the play structure – for adults who are supervising their children; and maybe a picnic table or two near the newly planted trees, where people will be able to find respite in the shade on those hot sunny summer days.

Parks & Playgrounds

The Sky’s the Limit for the Hunt Club Neighbourhood – Let’s Soar

News and Views from Paul Landry Park